What will you let go of?

And immediately, I felt annoyed. Release? What release? I have nothing to let go – my mind was saying. I am perfectly happy and in synch in every area of my life. That’s what my mind thought. My body told me another story.

The following day, I decided to bypass the mind and go on an inner adventure. While meditating, I discovered that I DID have things to let go. Although they were not obvious to my mind, they were present in my body – pain in my neck, tightness in my stomach, a feeling of anxiety. So, I gave myself Reiki. And I consciously decided to let go of these things that weren’t serving me anymore – doubt, worry, what ifs – to create more space and invite thoughts and feelings that will serve me better – self-compassion, patience, trust. My neck pain disappeared, my stomach felt less tight. With release you become lighter!

Autumnal equinox (and Steven Farmer) brings you that message. “If there is anything in your life that you wish to let go and release, now is the time. Let go of whatever has outlived its purposefulness and trust that something else will take its place. Trust your body to show you the way.

Now is the time to let anything in your life fall away that is no longer useful or needed for the emerging expression of who you are. Allow yourself to gradually shed what has become burdensome and no longer congruent with your purpose.

Look at your material possessions and discern which of these can be given or somehow released, consider shedding relationships that served their purpose and are not longer viable, or a job that has become devoid of passion and interest. With release comes a sense of being much lighter. So let go of whatever has outlived its purposefulness and trust that something else will take its place.”

But why is it sometimes so hard to let go? Because we have become so familiar with this feeling or pattern [anxiety, for example], that we associate with it to the point of thinking that it [anxiety] is part of us. Even worse, IT IS us.

It takes some boldness to declare to yourself: No, I don’t want [anxiety] in my life. It’s not who I am and I want to let go of it. By releasing something, you are inviting something else into your life. And if you start thinking: “Wait… what if I release anxiety, but invite something worse than anxiety?” Aha! I personally don’t think your body will let you invite something worse than it’s already trying to let go.

Your mind may trick you, but your body won’t. Your body won’t lie to you. So, if you try to quiet your mind and listen to your body, it may tell you exactly what you need, whether it is relaxation, peacefulness, or confidence.

I am sharing two different tools to help you release ‘stuff’:

Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Take a few deep, slow breaths, and when you are ready, shift your attention to your body. Simply notice where you feel discomfort, pain or tension. Practice listening. It’s not easy – the mind will try to get in the way. And when it does, come back to the sensations in your body. Turn your attention to that area of tension, and picture your breath flowing to that area. Breathe into it. After a few breaths, see or feel that pain/discomfort dissipating and leaving your body, finally being released and let go. Stay in that state of relaxation for a few minutes. Gently open your eyes.

If you have identified what you want to let go of – anxiety, stress, a challenging relationship, a heated discussion, etc. – this exercise is for you. Sit in a comfortable seated to position, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and when you feel more relaxed say internally or loudly: “I consciously choose to release [work anxiety, stress, etc] from my life. I now invite [peace of mind, support] to come to me, and I completely accept to receive [joy, support]. Thank you”. You can repeat your statement a few times (I usually repeat it 3 times) until you feel complete.

And if you feel that you are holding onto something bigger than you can handle, I am always here to help release ‘stuff’. I love to investigate, dig deep, and take the unnecessary ‘luggage’ out of your way. We all need to experience lightness!